The Senate Commerce Committee held its first Internet privacy hearing under the chairmanship of Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., closely questioning privacy advocates and representatives from Microsoft, Amazon and EarthLink on Wednesday about the need for a new privacy law.
“It is past time for action on this issue,” Hollings said. “This year, let’s finish the job.” The committee’s ranking member, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he remained “convinced that a federal law is needed.” Nevertheless, it’s unlikely that Congress will go further this year than passing a law mandating relatively weak privacy protections.
